esamson at ix.netcom.com (Ethan Samson ) wrote:
>I am a high school student in an introductory biology class. Here is
>my problem:
>>I was given three flasks of a carbohydrate broth. One flask was
>sealed, one had a straight tube that went into it, and one had a "w"
>shaped tube that went into it. My question is, if I leave these three
>flasks out in the classroom, will there be anything living in them when
>I pick them back up in a week? The one with the straight tube is
>getting cloudy and the one with the "w" shaped tube is a little less
>murky. The sealed flask is basically the same. What could be
>happening in these tubes? Can anyone tell me? Is there bacteria
>growing in them? If so, what kind? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reply!
>>if you do wish to reply, here is my adress: Esamson at ix.netcom.com>>>I *really* would appreciate any information you have.
>thanks in advance. Do your good deed of the day, help a lowly biology
>student!
Go to your nearest good library, get hold of a decent general
microbiology text and look up Louis Pasteur - he devised this experiment
with "swan-necked" flasks when the controversy over spontaneous
generation was raging in the late 19th century
--
Tony Stott | When you have eliminated the
Department of Microbiology | impossible, whatever remains must,
Monash University | however improbable, be the truth.
Clayton Vic. 3168 |
Australia | Sherlock Holmes
tony.stott at med.monash.edu.au | (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)